Reference · Cost
Total cost, itemized
There is no surprise math. Every dollar a Fresh Slate filer pays from start to finish is listed below.
Published·In review by Eugenio Ramos, Esq. — CA Bar #261964
The numbers
| Line item | Cost | When paid |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh Slate intake + form generation | Free | N/A — fully free |
| Credit counseling course (required before filing, 60–90 min) | $0–$25 (often free if income is low) | Before filing, with an approved provider |
| Attorney review by Eugenio Ramos, Esq. | $100 flat (applies to retainer if you keep him on) | After intake is complete, before filing |
| Court filing fee (Chapter 7) | $338 | At filing — fee waiver available (Form 103B) |
| Debtor education course (required before discharge, ~90 min) | $0–$25 (often free if income is low) | After filing, before discharge |
| TYPICAL TOTAL | ~$478 | — |
Court filing fee per the US Bankruptcy Court fee schedule (last change: December 1, 2020). Counseling/education prices are typical low-cost provider rates; both are required by 11 U.S.C. §§ 109(h) and 727(a)(11) and must come from US Trustee–approved providers.
How this compares
A traditional full-service Chapter 7 in San Diego County typically runs $1,500–$3,000 in attorney fees plus the $338 court filing fee — call it $1,838–$3,338 all-in for a simple case. Fresh Slate cuts that to about $478 for the same simple case by automating the intake interview and having Eugenio only do the part that legally requires an attorney (the review).
The math only works because Fresh Slate is scope-limited to simple cases. A case with real estate or active lawsuits genuinely needs attorney time that no amount of software automation replaces; for those cases, the traditional fee range is appropriate.
Fee waiver if income is very low
The $338 court filing fee can be waived entirely if your household income is below 150% of the federal poverty line and you cannot pay the fee in installments. Filers apply on Bankruptcy Form 103B at filing time. Approval is at the judge's discretion but is granted in roughly 90% of properly-filed applications.
If you are likely to qualify for a fee waiver, Fresh Slate can prepare Form 103B alongside your petition. Total cost in that scenario is just the $100 review plus the ~$40 in courses, or about $140 all-in.
Sources
- US Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule (https://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/fees/bankruptcy-court-miscellaneous-fee-schedule)
- US Trustee Program — approved credit counseling and debtor education provider lists
- 28 U.S.C. § 1930(f) — fee waiver authorization
Related reading
Reference · Exemptions
California Bankruptcy Exemptions
Reference · 341 meeting
The 341 meeting of creditors
Fresh Slate is a free tool that helps you prep Chapter 7 bankruptcy in California. Eugenio Ramos reviews every filing for $100 before you file.
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